Specialists from the Institute for Physics and Power Engineering (part of Rosatom) have developed a technology for processing radioactive liquid sodium coolant in a reactor, commissioned by TVEL. This was reported by the state corporation's press service.
A unit called "Mineral 100/150" has been created, which operates using solid-phase oxidation technology. The equipment allows converting liquid sodium into a solid, mineral-like product suitable for final disposal.
Advantages of the technology: simplicity, no emissions into the atmosphere, explosion and fire safety.
TVEL's Director for Radioactive Waste Management, Eduard Nikitin, stated that "Mineral 100/150" could be used to decommission the BN-350 sodium-cooled reactor in Aktau. This refers to the Mangistau Atomic Energy Combine (MAEK), which operated from 1972 to 1999.
This reactor unit contains 680 cubic meters of sodium, which can be converted to a safe state in 3-4 years without building a new storage facility.
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